New online maps will allow potential adopters to assess different agencies across the country and choose the most suitable.
The maps, available on the First4Adoption website, feature information on the number of children waiting for new homes in different regions, as well as statistics indicating the speed of the adoption process. Visitors, formerly restricted to different the agencies in their region, can now also compare agencies in different areas.
Children’s Minister Edward Timpson said:
“I’ve seen promising progress this year – a significant rise in adoptions and a huge increase in the numbers of adopters, but I am determined to do everything in my power to ensure the 6,000 children waiting are offered safe and caring homes.”
He added: “I want anyone considering adoption to look carefully at the information in our interactive maps and consider whether they can offer a child a stable and loving home.”
The government has also launched an adoption leaderboard to help councils implement reforms set out in the Children and Families Bill, as well as £50 million in additional funding.
The minister continued:
“Our new adoption leadership board will play an important role ensuring local authorities and adoption agencies stay on track and recruit more adopters – and a further £50 million for councils in 2014 will help them put the building blocks in place to implement our reforms.”
First4Adoption is “the dedicated information service for people interested in adopting a child in England.”
